WhatsApp reported this past August that it is handling 10 billion messages a day.Today, WhatsApp is the N0.1 app in 114 countries and a top-five app in 145 countries. My take on its growth reasons-
1) Features- Some
of the features that WhatsApp provided, like groupchat,
photo-video-audio file sharing, were not available on most of the
popular "chatting" applications and had hit the right chord with the
audience (mostly youngsters). Gtalk was popular but could be accessed
only through a laptop or a PC. Same with Yahoo chat, MSN messenger etc.
The pleasure of "sharing on the go" - click a foto and share with a
friend/group in real time was something that really appealed to most of
the first-time smartphone users. Groupchat was available but costly or
again only through PCs/laptops.
Easy sign- up - yes, it did add to it's appeal.
Sharing a new song was easier than ever. Type and send. Click and share. As easy as you say it. And all this for free. Yes, on your mobile.
Easy sign- up - yes, it did add to it's appeal.
Sharing a new song was easier than ever. Type and send. Click and share. As easy as you say it. And all this for free. Yes, on your mobile.
2) Cross- Platform compatibility- People started trying and using the latest apps. I personally know people who bought new smartphones to use WhatsApp. Gradually, it didnt matter what platform you were using- iOS, Blackberry, Android, Symbian, (No Bada).You could always stay connected.
3) Smartphone Big Bang-Add to the sudden boom of smartphone sale in Asia-Pacific region. Specially in India.
4) Cheaper 3G and 2G data- Easy availability of "internet packs", multiple and easy recharging options prompted people to make their smartphones really smart.
5) Costly SMS - Specially during the festive days, higher SMS charges even though you have the "SMS PACK" subscribed, pissed off the users. And all you need to access WhatsApp was an internet connection. Share photo for free even on a Diwali Day. MMS was something that had lost sheen - blame to the ever high charges.
WhatsApp announced the 1 billion message daily milestone in October 2011 and it took it just 10 months to vault to 10 billion messages a day.
